St. Joseph Church

My dear friends in Christ,

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, during this very strange Lenten season, we hear the third in the trilogy of St John’s gospels. This time Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead and bids him “Come out!”

Like the blind man in last week’s gospel, Lazarus represents all of humanity. He stands for the “dead man” in all of us that Jesus loves and wants to liberate from the hands of sin and death.

In this world nothing is more powerful than death. It cannot be undone. It will happen to you and to me and to everyone who lives. Whether plant or animal, infant or elder, sudden or protracted, it is final and absolute – in this world. But God has the ultimate power over death. God will open our graves and have us rise from the dead. He will give life to our mortal body again. By the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, even death is overcome.

Jesus’ words are not limited to the experience of natural bodily death. We all experience many losses in life, little deaths, and things for which we grieve. It could be our health, our job, our security or the loss of something or someone that means a lot to us.

Think for a moment: Where is the dead part of my soul? Where is my tomb? What part of my heart has been so corrupted because of my attachment to sin?

Every one of us is in some way spiritually dead. Maybe, like Lazarus we’ve been in this tomb for a long time and there is a stench to our life. We may have an experience that feels like being confined to a tomb. Perhaps it is an addiction to alcohol or drugs or pornography. Perhaps it’s a tomb of despair or hopelessness. Maybe you feel there is no hope for the likes of you or that you’ve done things that you are even ashamed to bring yourself to mention out loud. Maybe it’s a broken relationship with people you love or even God and the Church. Perhaps you’ve been a first-class jerk and just feel you are a failure. And you’re terrified of dying. It matters not how far you’ve fallen or how dead you are. The voice of Jesus can call you back to life and pull you out of your tomb. Listen for his voice…” Come Out!” “Untie him and let him go free.”

I’ve had an experience this past summer of hearing Jesus voice that transformed a tomb experience into a bright and brilliant cavern. In the past during retreats I was invited to see an inner room or space where the Lord dwelled in me. It tried to picture what that room would look like, the furniture, windows and pictures on the walls etc. It was never clear, rather a dark place like a cave, Seneca Caverns for example. Last summer I attended a healing seminar at Steubenville and the experience of seeing that dark cave and praying for healing and the Lord’s gift of presence, I could picture a flock of bats coming out of the cave and then I was invited to go in and found there a rainbow of bright glowing gems that filled the walls and ceilings with brilliant colorful light. The air was fresh and scented and I felt the Presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling there.

In these days of confinement to our homes, let us turn to Jesus, he is the one who knows the way out.

Lots of love to you all,
Fr Jim
 

My dear beloved sisters and brothers,

Well, we have (sorta) survived another week sequestered together, alone. Perhaps this little discovery is yours too; my AAADD is kicking in like mad. I look at one mess and then move on to another one. I get started, get distracted, or bored, or become frustrated with trying to decide if I should throw something out or keep it. What will I do with it? Why do I want to keep it?
                                                

THE SARAMENT OF PENANCE

I received a memo from the Diocese urging us not to forget the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them:
“Receive the Holy spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.
And Whose sis you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:23)

Confessions are available at church in the pews in front of the confessional room. I will be there on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm and on Wednesday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm for the Day of Grace. Next weekend I’ll be available both Saturday and Sunday and during Holy Week.

We are reminded by our Bishop Thomas: The faithful who desire the Sacrament but are inhibited for one reason or another are invited to say a Perfect Act of Contrition.
“Where the individual faithful find themselves in a painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, express by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by votum confessionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to the sacramental confession, obtain forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones.” (Catechism of the Catholic church, no. 1452) 

Thus, perfect contrition requires: the love of God, the sincere desire for forgiveness, and the ardent commitment to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as soon as possible.

HOLY COMMUNION

Although Holy Communion is not available at this time, we are reminded of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION by using this simple prayer:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

2020 CENSUS

We know how difficult it is to keep up with phone numbers and addresses with a very mobile congregation, imagine dealing with the entire nation. We are in the beginning stages of the decennial census in the United States. Every ten years, by law, the U.S. Census Bureau counts every one living in the United States and its territories. This census has tremendous significance for communities across the country.
Census data informs congressional representation, the distribution of more than $675 bullion in federal funding each year, local government planning, business decisions, and more.
Over this past decade, the U.S. Census Bureau have made major improvements for this 2020 Census, including offering new options for responding on-line in addition to maintaining the choice to complete the form by mail or by phone. A complete and accurate count of everyone in our diverse nation is important.
As a parish community we can help in this endeavor. The Census material will be coming out on April 1st. Please complete it as accurately as you can, and truthfully, and return it as soon as possible. Especially in this Coronaviral condition, when it is not good for Census Takers to go from door to door. The Census information is safe, secure, and confidential. Responses CANNOT be used against people in any way.
For more information up to date you may contact the Bureau directly by visiting their site: 2020census.gov.

HOLY WEEK

Ron and I will be working on details that we received from the Diocese for Holy Week and I will make them available to you next weekend. Beside the liturgies for Holy Week, I am also going to share information about the Seder Meal that you can celebrate at home as a family on Holy Thursday. I will also provide comments about the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples, completing the Stations of the Cross by driving through the Stations at the Cemetery, and any more things I can think of. 

God bless you all. Be safe and be good to each other.

Love you,
Fr Jim

COVID-19 IMPORTANT UPDATE

All publicly celebrated Masses and liturgies are suspended (please see the letter from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio below). This includes our Feast Day Mass on March 19th, in addition to all of our parish meetings, activities, and events, including: 

• Sacramental Prep Classes
• Youth Group Classes
• PREP Classes
• ALPHA Connect
• Men of Jesus the Christ
• Choir Practice
• Intercessory Prayer Group
• K of C Fish Fry
• Stations of the Cross

The Parish Office will be closed until further notice. 

Let us join in prayer, invoking the intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph, for those suffering from illness, that they may be healed quickly and all people will be protected from harm.

As this is a rapidly changing situation, please be prepared for changes in our response. Thank you. 

Update 3/18/2020 - 10:27 pm